3 charts that explain the North Korean nuclear test

An analysis by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) has found that the explosion that caused the seismic event in North Korea was man-made.

The move drew worldwide condemnation and vows of far tougher sanctions from the United Nations Security Council as well as the United States, which is considering deploying strategic military assets to South Korea, its ally.

The loudspeaker broadcasts, which will start on Friday, believed to be the birthday of young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, are certain to infuriate authoritarian Pyongyang because they are meant to raise questions in North Korean minds about the infallibility of the ruling Kim family.

The decision to resume the broadcasts comes after the North claimed it successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb, which Seoul called a “grave violation” of an agreement reached in October, according to USA Today.

South Korea is preparing to launch the same anti-North propaganda campaign that brought the two to the brink of war past year.

US President Barack Obama has spoken to South Korean President Park Geun Hye and to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said earlier that it was not yet considering shutting down the Kaesong industrial complex run jointly with the North, located north of the heavily militarised border.

North Korea’s nuclear program may be nascent and Pyongyang could well be lying about its capabilities – but North Korea is the only country in the world now carrying out nuclear tests.

The statement further underscored that North Korea will act as a “responsible nuclear state”, and will use its nuclear armament only to defend its sovereignty.

The US State Department confirmed North Korea had conducted a nuclear test but the Obama administration disputed the hydrogen bomb claim. After North Korea last tested a nuclear device, in 2013, Washington sent a pair of nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on a sortie over South Korea in a show of force.

North Korea’s alleged bomb, however, triggered an natural disaster of 4.8 magnitudes which, on the logarithmic scale of quake magnitude, indicates a huge drop in explosive power. However, it will likely take several days to determine more precisely what kind of device Pyongyang set off as a variety of sensors, including “sniffer planes”, collect evidence. The UN Security Council also held an emergency session and pledged to swiftly pursue new sanctions against North Korea, saying the test was a clear violation of previous UN resolutions.

Thus, the North Korea nuclear issue is merely a part of the ongoing deterioration of global relations.